The issue’s theme is Collective Soul: Religion and the Left. There is also a section on Climate Justice, and my writeup is on the Powershift 2007 summit. I had hoped to give a more intimate reportback here in this blog, as well as a writeup about the RAN/SEAC network that a bunch of us busted our butts launching at Powershift through what turned out to be almost a mini-action camp…but for now, here’s the article. It’s being run next to a few articles on Climate Justice, so it’s meant to compliment those, which are much more heavy in terms of political content.

Powershift 2007: Youth Rising to the Climate Challenge

On November 3rd, I felt a stadium shake from 6,000 students jumping to their feet and chanting “Green Jobs, Not Jails! Parks, Not Prisons! We Won’t Stop Till Somebody Listens!” It was kind of a national coming-out party for the youth climate movement. More than a student environmental conference, Powershift 2007 was a moment revealing youth power and its potential to drive some deeply transformative shifts in this country.

More than 4,500 families are about to lose their homes – homes that are perfectly good and were undamaged by the hurricane. The public housing that mainly serves low in come people of color is about to be demolished by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to make way for wealthier, whiter, housing. It is an attack specifically targets working class women of color and their children, who have been working to reclaim these units since Hurricane Katrina. With Hurricane Katrina survivors around the country unable to return to their homes, and the residents who are left being pushed out at every opportunity, this housing demolition is a blatant example of the ongoing ethnic cleansing that has taken place in New Orleans after authorities exploited hurricane Katrina to displace families, gentrify the area, and re-make the city into a very different place.

After a series of small victories in postponing the demolition, this morning was supposed to be a hearing on the demolitions of public housing. Residents and activists came out to City Hall, and were subsequently attacked by police. Residents and allies were peppersprayed, forced out of City Hall, many arrested, and then tasered outside. Many people are in need of medical attention.

This is an outrage. If you have even a few minutes and can get on the phone this morning, please IMMEDIATELY call members of the New Orleans City Council to let them know that tazering and pepperspray on peaceful residents is an outrage and that the country is watching them.

The recent Northeast SDS convention in Philly signaled a new stage of maturation and growth for SDS. It was a huge step forward for the organization and the most collectively organized SDS gatherings yet. It was super exciting to participate in.

Here is a reportback from Robin Markle (college student with Drew SDS) and Becca Rast (highschool student with Lancaster SDS), published on Znet.

Students For a Democratic Society Northeast Convention – Winter 2007

On December first and second, over 150 youth converged on the campuses of the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University for the new Students for a Democratic Society’s fourth Northeast Convention, hosted by Philly SDS. This convention was a landmark event for northeast SDS. Read the rest of this entry »